The Oncohematology unit of the Doctor José Molina Orosa University Hospital, a center affiliated with the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a gala at the Monument to the Peasant, last Friday, October 16. The event brought together patients, families, representatives of associations, and professionals who have been part of the unit's trajectory over these two decades.
The celebration was an opportunity to recall the unit's beginnings, review the progress made, and, above all, give a voice to the people who have contributed to building its history.
Throughout the event, the interventions of professionals who have developed a significant part of their careers in the unit stood out. Among them, that of Orlando Olivares, the first supervisor, and that of nurses Fatma Wade and Shaila Romero, who shared their memories about the launch of the service and the work carried out over these twenty years. Some of the first doctors who led the unit also participated via videos, including hematologist José Manuel Calvo, who offered his perspective on the beginnings and evolution of oncological care in Lanzarote.
The testimony of patients also played a prominent role during the gala. Some of them shared their experiences and the different emotions that accompany the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Human quality, family, affection, and the human factor were some of the expressions that were repeated throughout the meeting, along with others such as abyss, fear, or uncertainty, and all of them pointed out the trust that arises from the bond with healthcare professionals who, in addition to treatments, take into account the emotional needs of patients.
The event was attended by the director of the Lanzarote Health Area, Erasmo García, the medical director of the Doctor José Molina Orosa University Hospital, Luis Carlos Moreno, and the Nursing director, Teresa Salagre, who shared this celebration with professionals from different stages of the unit, patients, families, and representatives of the associative movement.
The Gala also featured a musical performance by the association Acompañar, which visits the hospital every week to liven up the patients' stay, and who delighted attendees with their music. Likewise, the artist Ivan Témpera created one of his works during the event as a tribute to cancer patients.
Two decades of oncological care
The Oncohematology unit began its activity in 2006, a key moment for cancer care in Lanzarote, given that until then patients had to travel to other islands, especially Gran Canaria, to receive treatments such as chemotherapy. The launch of the unit made it possible to bring this specialized care closer to the island's population and reduce the need for travel. Since its creation, the unit has treated 7,607 patients.
The service has evolved in resources, professionals, and care capacity. It is noteworthy that three years ago radiotherapy was introduced at the Hospital Molina Orosa, an advance that has made it possible to expand the treatment options available on the island.
Twenty years after its launch, this gala has served to recognize the work of the professionals who have been part of this journey and to remember a shared trajectory with patients, their families, and the associations that support them.
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